Taking the appropriate measures

Did you know that the French have a special word for "shoe size", "pointure?" However, contrary to what you may believe, this word has nothing to do with the "point" or tip of a shoe. It is a technical term borrowed from printing that designates a "piece used in shoemaking to which the upper is stitched." So, how do you measure your "pointure?" Depending on which country you are from, this can require some varied and mysterious calculations. Here is a chart that will help you nail down your shoe size.

38

45

Hermès sizes

38

38.5

39

39.5

40

40.5

41

41.5

42

42.5

43

43.5

44

44.5

45

Italy

38

38.5

39

39.5

40

40.5

41

41.5

42

42.5

43

43.5

44

44.5

45

France

39

39.5

40

40.5

41

41.5

42

42.5

43

43.5

44

44.5

45

45.5

46

UK

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

10

10.5

11

US

6

6.5

6.5

7

7.5

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

10

10.5

11

11.5

12

Japan

24.5

25.0

25.0

25.5

25.5

26.0

26.5

26.5

27.0

27.5

28.0

28.5

28.5

29.0

29.0

Did you know that the French have a special word for "shoe size", "pointure?" However, contrary to what you may believe, this word has nothing to do with the "point" or tip of a shoe. It is a technical term borrowed from printing that designates a "piece used in shoemaking to which the upper is stitched." So, how do you measure your "pointure?" Depending on which country you are from, this can require some varied and mysterious calculations. Here is a chart that will help you nail down your shoe size.